Folding machine



Original Filed June 2 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet l [Me 11/2 or fln/ drew A. ffv'aaerstrm By MM gm 0172/ W Dec. 17, 1929. RIDDEIRSTROM 1,740,410

FOLDING MACHINE Oviginal Filed June 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet V Irbvemt or flh/drezuR ei/alalengirom Dec 17, 1929. RlDDERSTROM 1,740,419

FOLDING MACHINE I Original Filed June 2 21 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Wm rv 7 flmdrew R.R 1;dd em;t1"om ANDREW R. RIDDERSTROM, 0F NANT, MASSACHUSETTS,

FOLDING n original application filed June 24, 1921, Serial No. 480,177. Divided and 30, 19%. Serial Nor 740,?35.

The present invention relates more particularly to progressively operating folding machines for foldin the margins of flexible sheet material, like s 0e uppers, and pressing the folds or the like so formed. The invention is illustrated and described herein in connection with the folding and pressing of a binding strip around the edge of a boot or shoe upper to which it is attached, as disclosed in a copending application, Serial No. 480,17 7 filed June 24:, 1921, of which the pres ent application is a division. The invention is not, however, limited to operation upon articles of such character.

In the manufacture of boots and shoes, it has been common practice to finish the edge of a part of a shoe upper by securing to one face of the part, along an edge thereof, a strip of binding, then to coat the strip With a cement which is normally wet and sticky and then to fold the free portion of the strip progressively around the edge of the shoe part and press it down upon the margln of the other face of said part. Cement of the type referred to, owing to its liquid character, is liable to become smeared more or less upon the shoe part; and besides, remains sticky only for a limited interval during which, of course, the folding and pressing must'take place.

In the above-identified application, it is proposed to use a binding strip coated with a cement which is normally dry and nonsticky, but that may be rendered sticky by heat. This-method is not only much cleaner than the old, wet-cement method, but is much more convenient in that the dry-cemented work may be allowed to stand for an indefinite interval before being operated upon.

A chief object of the present invention is to provide a machine for folding drycemented strips of the above-described character. To this end, the machine is provided with a heating element for liquefying the dry cement to render it sticky. In accordance with the specific embodiment of the invention that i herein illustrated and described, the strip is first acted upon by a wiper, after which it is tightly gripped and pulled tight between a feed point and a plow. It is then ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSUN, NEW JERSEY, A CURJPORATION 01E NEW JERSEY CHINE this application filed September folded over upon the leather sheet to which it is attached, being finally pressed down by a fold presser. In accordance with the pre ferred embodiment of the present invention, 1t 1s the fold presser that is heated to liquefy the cement. The invention is not, however, restricted to the exact machine that is illustrated and described herein, nor to use with the exacterticle mentioned, but is of much broader scope, and has many additional uses.

Other objects will appear hereinafter, and the scope of the invention is defined in the appended claims. y

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a view in elevation, partly in longitudinal section, and with parts omitted, of a machine constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the forward part of the machine, showing parts in section; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the upper, forward part of the machine, parts being broken away for clearness; Fig. 4 is a plan of the forward portion of the machine; Fig. 5 is a section of a shoe upper, showing an unfolded binding strip attached thereto; Fig. 6 is a section similar to Fig. 5, showing the binding strip in finally folded position upon the upper; Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail, plan view, showing the operation of folding a binding strip attached to a shoe upper, many parts being omitted for clearmess? and Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken substantially upon the lines 8-8 of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in connection with the folding of a binding strip 2, of cloth, silk and the like, around the edged of a sheet of leather -or other material 6, such as a boot or shoe upper. An edge 8 of the binding strip is sewed at 12 to a face 10 of the shoe upper along the edge 4, so. that the sheet and the strip extend at an angle to each other from the secured-together edges 4 and 8.

It will be understood that the invention is equally applicable to other articles than that which is herein chosen for purposes of illustration, and the elements of the article need not necessarily be of the relative dimenmons shown. It may be desirable, for example, to

- fold an element of relatively large dimension over the edge of an element of relatively small dimension, or to fold the margin of an ordinary, leather shoe upper over upon the body portion thereof.

The shoe upper is initially placed upon a platform or support 24, Figs. 2 to 4, with the face of the upper in contact with the support. An end of the free or unsecured edge 26 of the strip 2 is initiallymoved across and around the secured-together edges 4 and 8, and into the space between an interior side face 28 of a preferably toothed feed point 30 and a plow 32 that stands up'integrally from a plate 34. The machine being set into operation, successive portions of the unsecured edge or portion of the strip 2, nearthe stitches 12 are intermittentlywiped ti htly across the secured-together edges 4 21115 8, or away from the stitches, as shown more particularly at 36, Fig. 6, by the combined action of a wiper 38 and a retainer 153 that presses down heavily at this time upon the upper directly opposite to the point of action of the wiper. It is very important to the subsequent operation that the strip be wiped very tightly. The retainer-operating mechanism will not be described herein as it forms no essential part of the present invention. The retainer is provided with teeth 232, the more firmly to hold the stock. In order to enable the wiper 38 to operate, the strip 2 is progressively moved lightly or loosely by the operators fingers from the position of Fig. 5 more or less into the plane of the shoe-upper sheet 6, as the shoe upper is fed forward through the machine. The successively wiped portions are initially intermittently folded around the secured-together edges-4 and 8 by the plow 32, during the backward movement with the feed elements, as described in Letters Patent No. 1,527,396, granted February 24, 1925. The plow-folded portions of the strip are gripped intermittently between the interior side face 28, Fig. 8, of the feed point and the plow 32, becoming thereby pulled tightly. The intermittent wiping, and folding and gripping operations are performed upon the successive portions of the strip alternately, during successive pauses in the feed. The plow-folded portions are advanced by the feed point and a co-operating feed block 41, that is carried integrally with the plow 32 upon a plate 34, to a combined folder and fold presser 42. The fold presser 42 folds the PlOW-TEOlClGdPOI'tlOIlS of the strip further and presses them down against the other face 16 of the sheet, as shown in Fig. 6. The preferred fold presser 42 is described in the said Letters Patent and in Letters Patent No. 1,527,395, also granted February 24, 1925.. These operations are continued in timed relation to one another until the whole strip has become folded, as is described more fully in the said Letters Patent No.,1,527,396. Reference is made to the said Letters Patent for i a fuller description of so much of the machine the details of construction and operation of the wiper and of the feed mechanism.

The'upper is advanced by the feed ele' ments and the plow to a diagonally offset edge 144, Fig. 7, of the fold presser 42, under which edge the initially plow-folded strip is positioned and by which it is pinched at the fold. The pinched fold is later pressed into even contact with the face 16 of the upper. As in the above-described Letters Patent, the fold presser is floatingly pivoted at 146, Fig. 8, to one end of a link 148"the other end of which is eccentrically connected by a pin 150, Fig. 1, to a spiral gear 152 meshing with a spiral gear 154 upon the driving shaft 66. The exterior surface of the fold presser is cylindrical, as shown at 156, so as to rock within a cylindrical bearing 158 provided at the free end of an arm 160 the other end of which is pivoted at 162, Fig. 2. The curvilinear working face 164 of the fold presser descends with a rolling action upon the strip. The previously pinched fold, after it is advanced, on the next feed movement, under the cylindrical face 164, is thus pressed out or rolled over. The fold presser 'is springpressed towards the support 24 by a'compression spring166, Fig. 3, mounted upon a rod 168, extending through an opening (not shown) in the arm 160 and screw-threaded into the frame. By means of the screw together. An electrical heating unit 550 is shown mounted in position in an oil cup 552 of the fold-presser cylindrical bearing 158. This construction provides a Very compact, heated fold presser. A thermostat 554, Fig. 1, maintains the temperature of the fold presser within predetermined limits through causing the making and breaking of contact threads, the pressure of the spring upon the V members 556. The thermostat, contact members and wiring connections are contained within a box 558 mounted upon a bracket 560 secured to the frame of the machine,,as shown in Fig. 4.

The heated fold presser is equally efi'ective for use in ordinary folding operations. The margin of the shoe upper may, for example, be dryecemented, or a dry-cemented strip may be interposed between the margin and the body of the upper. In all such cases, the use of the heated fold presser of the present invention makes it possible to eliminate the troublesome cement pots from the shoe factory Before the machine is started, it is desirable to raise the feed point from the feed block to permit the insertion of the upper therebetween. A preferred construction for raising the feed point is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The feed point is adapted to be raised through a rod 300 that is vertically disposed in an opening 302 of the rocking support 94. The rod 300 rests upon the head of a rod 304 that is slidably mounted in a vertical opening (not shown) provided transversely through the rod 96. The rod 304 rests upon one end of a lever 307 pivoted at 308 and that is normally maintained in the illustrated position by a spring 310 coiled about a rod 312. A treadle (not shown) acting upon a link 316, is adapted to actuate the lever 307 so as to cause the raising of the rods 304 and 300 and, through them, of the feed point 30. The feed point, in turn, raises the retainer by engaging the under side of the arm 250.

In operation, during the fold-pressing operation, the feed point rises, as shown more particularly in Fig. 8, releasing its hold upon the material. With the feed block and the plow, it then returns in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 14. During this return move ment, the retainer 153 presses down hard against the stock at a point opposite to the point of operation of the wiper, and the fold presser clamps the stock against the support 24, as shown in Fig. 8. The wiper thus co operates with the retainer at this time, while the strip is stationary, to wipe or stretch the strip tightly across the edge of the stock,

and the fold presser is endowed with a presser-foot action to hold the stock against movement during the return movement-of the feed elements. During the return movement of the feed elements, furthermore, the plow initially folds thatportion of the strip over which it rides, and which has been previously wiped, as will be understood from Fig. 7. As the plow is rigid with the feed block, it acts also as a gage. The wiper is effective during substantially the whole return movement of the plow, and the folding operation of the plow continues until the plow is returned to a point very close to the wiper. Towards the end of the return movement of the feed elements, the feed point descends obliquely ing the forward movement of the feed elements until the feed point again rises, at the end ofthe said forward movement. During this forward feed movement, the retainer and the wiper release their hold upon the stock, and the fold presser again descends to iron out the stock. The stock is solidly gripped at all times during the forward movement of the feed elements, permitting no opportunity for the stock to slip, and the line of fold of the strip about the edges 4 and 8 is absolutely predetermined. The initial, predetermined fold is advanced under the diagonally offset edge 144 of the fold presser, as

shown in Fig. 11," and is then pinched by this edge. The initially pinched fold is at the n Xt forward movement of the feed elements brought under the curvilinear working face 164 of the fold presser by which it is further folded and pressed. The above-described cycle of operations is then repeated.

Many parts of the illustrative machine have been very briefly described, or not described at all, because not essential to an understanding of the present invention, and because other such parts are well known in machines of the prior art. A fuller understanding of the illustrative parts may be had by referring to the above-mentioned application and Letter Patent though many parts shown and de- .cept in so far as limitations may be specifically imposed in the-appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for folding a dry-cemented strip around the edge of a sheet of material to one face of which, along said edge, an edge of the strip is secured so that the sheet and the strip extend from the secured-together edges at an angle to each other, the said machine having, in combination, means for moving'the unsecured edge of the dry-cemented strip around the secured-together edges, means for pressing the strip into conliquefy the dry cement upon the strip.

2. A machine for folding a dry-cemented strip around the edge of a sheet of material 'to one face of which, along said edge, an edge of the strip is secured so that the sheet and the strip extend from the secured-together edges at an angle to each other, the said mahine having, in'combination, a wiper'for wiping the dry-cemented strip across the secured-together edges, a plow for folding the wiped strip around the secured-together edges, a fold presser for pressing the stripinto even contact withthe other face of the sheet, and a heating element mounted upon the fold presser for heating the fold presser to liquefy the dry cement upon the strip.

3. A folding machine having, in combination, a fold presser, means for heating the same, and means for maintaining the heat of the fold presser within predetermined limits.

4. A machine of the class described having, in combination, an operating instrumentality integrally provided with a cup through which oil is adapted to enter to lubricate the operating instrumentality, and an electrical heating element for heating the operating instrumentality mounted in the cup. I

5. A folding machine having, in combina tion, a fold presser integrally provided with a cup through which oil is adapted to enter to lubricate. the fold presser, and a heating element for heating the fold presser mounted in the cup.

6. A folding machine having, in combination, a support, means for feeding sheet material step by step over the support, means for folding portions of the material step by step, means for clamping the material against the support and for pressing the folded portions during pauses in the feed, and means for heating the clamping and pressing means.

7 A folding machine having, in combination, a support, means for feeding sheet material step by step over the support, means for folding portions of the material step by step, a combined presser foot and iron. for clamping the material against the support and for pressing the folded port-ions during pauses in the feed, and means for heating the combined foot and iron.

8. A machine for folding a dry-cemented strip around the edge of a sheet of material to one face of which, along the said edge, an edge of the strip is secured so that the sheet and the strip extend from the secured-togethenedges at an angle to each other, the said machine having, in combination, a support, means for feeding the sheet and the strip over the support, means for moving portions of the. unsecured edge of the strip across the securedtogether edges when the said portions reach a predetermined position upon the support,

means for folding themoved portions around the secured-together edges when the said moved portions reach a second predetermined the support and means for heating the fold presser to liquefy the dry cement upon the stri F 9. A machine for folding a dry-cemented strip around the edge of a sheet of material to one face of which, along the said edge, an edge of the strip is secured so that the sheet and the strip extend from the secured-together edges at an angle to each other, the said machine having, in combination, means for feeding the sheet and the strip step by step, means for moving portions of the unsecured edge of the strip across, the secured-together edges during pauses in the feed, means for folding the moved portions around the secured-together edges during pauses in the feed subsequent to the pauses during which they were moved across thesecuredtogether edges, a fold presser for pressing the folded portions into even contact with the other face of the sheet, and means for heating the fold presser to liquefy the dry cement upon the strip.

' 10. A machine for folding a. dry-cemented strip around the edge of a sheet of material to one face of which, along the said edge, an edge of the strip is secured so that the sheet and the strip extend from the secured-together edges. at an angle to each other, the said machine having, in combination, a support, means for feeding the sheet and the strip step by step over the support, means for moving portions of the unsecured edge of the strip across the secured-together edges during pauses in the feed, means for folding the moved portions around the secured-together edges during pauses in the feed subsequent to the pauses during which they were moved across the secured-together edges, means for pressing the folded portions into even contact with the other face of the sheet and clamping the sheet against the support dur-' ing pauses in the feed, and means for heating the clamping and pressing means to liquefy the dry cement upon the strip.

11. A machine for folding a dry-cemented strip around the edge of a sheet of material adapted to be gripped between the feed point and the plow, thereby pulling the wiped strip ma am tight and initially folding the wiped strip around the secured-together edges, a fold presser for pressing the initially folded strip into even contact with the other face of the sheet, and means for heating the fold presser t'o liquefy the dry cement upon the strip.

12. A machine for folding a dry-cemented strip around the edge of a sheet of material to one face of which, along the said edge, an edge of the strip is secured so that the sheet and the strip extend from the secured-together edges at an angle to each other, the said machine having, in combination, a feed block and a feed point for feeding the sheet and the strip step by step, treadle-controlled means for controlling the feed point, a wiper for tightly wiping the strip across the secured-together edges, a plow movable with the feed block, means whereby the wiped strip is adapted to be gripped between the feed point and the plow, thereby pulling the wiped strip tight and initially folding the wiped strip around the secured-together edges, a combined presser foot and iron for pressing the initially folded strip into even contact with the other face of the sheet and for clamping the sheet against the support during pauses in the feed, and means for heating the combined presser foot and iron to liquefy the dry cement upon the strip.

13. A folding machine having, in combination, a fold presser, means for feeding sheet material progressively to the fold presser, means for progressively folding portions of the material prior to their being fed to the fold presser, means for actuating the fold presser to press the folded portions of the material, and means for heating the fold presser. v

14. A folding machine having, in combination, a support overwhich flexible material is adapted to be fed step by step, a plow for.

folding the material, the material having a dry-cemented portion, a fold presser for pressing the folded material, means for actuating the fold presser to press the folded material progressively, and means for heating the fold presser to liquefy the dry cement.

15. A machine for folding a strip around, the edge of a sheet of material to one face of which, along the said edge, the strip is secured, and for cementing the strip in folded condition to the other face of the sheet by the use of dry cement, the said machine having, in combination, means for supporting the sheet and the strip, meansfor feeding the sheet and the strip over the supporting means,

. folding the strip around the said edge, applying heat to liquefy the dry cement, and pressing the strip against the other face of the sheet, and means for actuating any part of the second-named means.

16. A machine for folding a strip around the edge of a sheet of material to one face of which, along the said edge, a strip is secured,

and for cementing the strip in folded condition to the other face of the sheet by the use of a dry cement, the said machine having, in combination, means for folding the strip around the said edge, means for pressing the strip against the other face of the sheet, and means for heating one ,of the said means to liquefy the dry cement.

17 A machine for folding a dry-cemented strip around the edge of a sheet of material to one face of which, along said edge, an edge of the strip is secnredso that the sheet and the strip extend from the secured-together edges at an angle to each other, the said machine having, in combination, means for folding the unsecured edge of the dry-cemented strip around the secured-together edges, means for pressing the strip into contact with the other face of the sheet, and means for heating one of the said means to liquefy the dry cement upon the strip.

18. A machine for folding a strip around the edge of a sheet of materialto one face of which, along said edge, an edge of the strip is secured so that the sheet and the strip extend from the secured-together edges at an angle to each other, and for cementing the strip in folded condition to the other face of the sheet by the use of a dry cement, the

said machine having, in combination, a wiper for wiping the strip across the secured-together edges, a plow for folding the wiped strip around the secured-together edges, a fold presser for pressing the strip into even contact with the other face of the sheet, and a heating element for liquefying the dry cement.

19. A folding machine having, in combination, means for supporting sheet material, means for feeding the sheet material progressively over the support, progressively folding port-ions of the material, progressively heating portions of the material, clamping the material against the support and pressing the folded portions, and means for actuating any part of the second-named means.

20. A machine for folding a dry-cemented strip around the edge of a sheet of material to one face of which, along the said edge, an edge of the strip is secured so that the sheet and the strip extend from the secured-together edges at an angle to each other, the said machine having, in combination, means for supporting the sheet and the strip, means for progressively feeding the sheet and the strip over the support, heating portions of the strip to liquefy the dry cement, moving port-ions of the unsecured edge of the strip across and around the secured-together edges, and pressing the folded portions into contact with the other face of the sheet, and means for actuating any part of the second-named means.

21. A folding machine having, in combination, a support, means for progressively folding portions of sheet material, means for proating the second-named member to press the folded material progressively, and means for heating one of the members to liquefy the dry cement.

23. A machine for folding a strip around the edge of a sheet of material to one face of which, along the said edge, an edge of the strip is secured so that the sheet and the strip extend from the secured-together edges at an angle to each other, and for cementing the strip in folded condition to the other face of the sheet by the use of a dry cement, the said machine having, in combination, a plow for folding the strip around the securedtogether edges, a fold presser for pressing the strip into even contact with the other face of the sheat, and a heating element for liquefying the dry cement.

24. A machine of the class described having, in combinatioma support over which a piece of sheet material having its margin coated With hard cement is fed, means for softening the cement, and means for forming a fold in the margin and for pressing the fold.

25. A folding machine having, in combination, a support over which a piece of sheet material having its margin coated with a normally non-tacky cement is progressively fed, means for rendering the cement on successive portions of the margin tacky, and means for forming a fold in successive portions of the margin and for pressing the successively formed folds against the body of the material.

26. A folding machine having, in combination, a support over Which a piece of sheet material having its margin coated With a normally non-tacky cement is progressively fed, the cement being adapted to be rendered tacky by heat, means for heating successive portions of the'margin to render the cement upon the said successive portions tacky, and

means for forming a fold in successive portions of the margin and for pressmg the successively formed folds against the body of the material. v

27. A machine for folding a strip around the edge of a sheet of material to one face of which, along the said edge, an edge of the strip-is secured so that the sheet and the strip extend from the secured-together edges at an angle to each other, and for cementing the cement, the said machine having, in combination, a support over which the material is progressively fed, means for rendering the cement on successive portions of the strip tacky, and means for folding successive portions of the strip around the said edge of the sheet and for pressing the successively formed folds against the sheet.

28. A machine for folding a strip around the edge of a sheet of material to one face of Which, along the said edge, an edge of the strip is secured so that the sheet and the strip extend from the secured-together edges at an angle "to each other, and for cementing the strip in folded condition to the other face of the sheet'by'the use of a normally non-tacky cement that is adapted to be rendered tacky by heat, the said machine having, in combi- 1 In testimony whereof, I have hereunto sub- A scribed my name this 19th day of September, 1924. 1

ANDREW R. RIDDERSTROM.

strip in folded condition to the other face of the sheet by the use of a normally non-tacky 

